Toy vehicle



NOV. 19, 1968 J J LD 3,411,797

TOY VEHI OLE Filed July 28, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN "ENTOR. .J'Ol/A/ 17/414 M10 M, Mn

Nov. 19, 1968 J.J. WILD 3,411,797

TOY VEHICLE Filed July 28, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIE. 1U

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lrraxmsrs United States Patent 3,411,797 TOY VEHICLE John Julian Wild, 1100 E. 36th St.,

' Minneapolis, Minn. 55407 Filed July 28, 1966, Ser. No. 568,574 Claims. (Cl. 2801.175)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An operator propelled toy vehicle in which the appearance, action and sensation of a real life animal is simulated. A unidirectional propelling mechanism for a vehicle is actuated and driven by a fluid filled operator support device which is responsive to the repeated application of an operator to cause movement of the vehicle. The operator support device may also be utilized to control the operation of suitable vehicle braking means conjointly and cooperatively with the vehicle propelling effect.

The invention relates generally to toy vehicles and is more particularly directed to toy vehicles of the class wherein the weight of an operator supplies the motive force for propelling the vehicle over a surface.

Briefly, my invention is directed to a toy vehicle embodying the apparatus which substantially simulates the appearance of an animal and, in addition, provides a simulated action and sensation as might be experienced by an operator when riding a real life animal, for example, a horse. This is accomplished through the use of novel and improved drive and support devices which serve to support an operator and simultaneously propel the vehicle over a surface.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide an improved toy vehicle,

It is a further object of my invention to provide an improvide simulation, in a toy vehicle, of the sensations and motions of real life animals.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved drive apparatus for a toy vehicle.

Another object of my invention is to provide a toy vehicle having improved safety drive apparatus.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an inflatable resilient support for the operator of a toy vehicle which is automatic in operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved motion transmitting apparatus for use in a toy vehicle.

A further object of my invention is to provide an auto matic safety braking apparatus for use in combination with a toy vehicle.

These and other objects of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the appended specification, claims and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, on a reduced scale, on an illustrative toy vehicle which may embody the principles of my invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation view of a preferred form of apparatus that may be used in conjunction with the toy horse vehicle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 taken along section lines 33;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the rear portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, shown partly in section;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a three-quarter rear, enlarged perspective view of a portion of the drive mechanism for the rear end of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4;

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FIG. 8 is en enlarged sectional view of a portion of FIG. 6 taken along section lines 8-8;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional fragmentary portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8 taken along section lines 1010'.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference characters have been applied to like elements, there is shown, in particular, in FIG. 1, a side elevational view of a toy vehicle, shown in the form of a horse and indicated generally by reference character 10. Toy vehicle 10 is shown having a removable covering 11 which represents generally the body of a horse. Cover 11 is provided with an attached saddle 12 to support an operator, a head 16, configured to represent that of a horse and a pair of reins 17 adapted to be utilized by an operator. Toy vehicle 10 is also shOWn provided with downwardly depending rear support means 14, front support means and a stirrup 13 for engagement by and to support the feet of an operator, It may thus be seen that my invention comprises generally a toy vehicle that is adapted to support an operator thereon and which may be provided with a cover of suitable configuration to simulate the appearance of many animals. Toy vehicle 10 as will become apparent below, is intended to be operative on the ground or other surface and to be propelled by an operator through emulation of the physical motion that is normally attained when riding animals.

Referring to the remainder of the drawings, it will be seen that the apparatus of which the illustrative embodiment is comprised includes a frame member 18, a rear support means 14, an operator support member 57 and a front support means 15.

Frame member 18 is shown comprised of two pairs of horizontally disposed longitudinal members 19 and 20, all suitably connected at their forward and rearward ends to form a generally horizontal, rigid, assembly. A hollow, front vertical member 21 having a suitable boss at its lower end, is shown rigidly attached to the forward end of frame 18. In a similar manner, an upper rear vertical member is shown extending upwardly of the plane of members 19 and and a pair of laterally spaced lower rear vertical members 23 and 24 are shown depending downwardly therefrom. A longitudinally elongated biasing spring 25 is shown disposed substantially within the horizontal portion of frame 18 and is attached at its front end to frame 18 through suitable means, 26, and is provided at its rearward end with adjusting means 27, extending through a portion of rear support means 14, that is provided with a suitable dial for adjustment thereof as will be explained below. A pump means 29, shown in the form of a single acting cylindrical pump, is disposed on and attached to the lower portion of frame 18 and includes a relief valve which is connected through tubing 31 to an operator support member 57. Pump 29 is also provided with an actuator extending rearwardly therefrom which may be connected to a suitable link means 33 which is shown disposed on a portion of rear support means 14 and adapted to be driven thereby in a manner to be explained below.

Rear support means 14 is shown having a pair of laterally spaced generally vertically disposed vertical support members and 41 that are pivoted to the top of upper rear vertical member 22 on frame 18 by pivot member 42 extending through the top ends of support members 40 and 41. A pair of drive levers 43 and 44 are shown disposed adjacent the insides of vertical support members 40 and 41 and include longitudinally elongated slots at the center portions thereof that is pivotally mounted on movable pivots 45 and 46 that are in turn slidably mounted for adjustable vertical positioning on vertical support members 40 and 41. Drive levers 43 and 44 are further pivoted at their lower ends on the bottom of lower rear vertical members 23 and 24 on frame 18 by suitable pin members 63 and 64. Drive levers 43 and 44 are also suitably interconnected by a cross bar 47 disposed intermediate the ends thereof and in proximity to the lower portion of frame 18. Suitable adjusting means, indicated generally by reference character 48, are shown disposed from the top of upper rear vertical member 22 on frame member 18 and are connected by suitable links to movable pivot members 45 and 46 to adjustably slidably position the same on vertical support members 40 and 41. A transversely extending axle 49 is shown connected at the lower ends of vertical support members 40 and 41 and a pair of wheels, 50 and 51, are shown rotatably disposed thereon. Each of the wheels 50 and 51 is provided with a suitable one-way unidirectional clutch device indicated by reference characters 52 and 53 which may further be provided with suitable overload responsive means formed integrally thereof to allow movement in a reverse direction under certain conditions of operation. A U-shaped driving means 54 having a pad covering 55 at its front end is shown connected to the top ends of drive levers 43 and 44 through suitable screw threaded fastening means.

Operator support member 57 is shown in the form of a generally cylindrical, inflatable, fluid confining bag-like member that is preferably comprised of an envelope of flexible material that is substantially nonextensible but which may be deformed as indicated by the dotted lines on, for example, FIG. 2 of the drawings. Support member 57 may be filled with a material exhibiting fluid characteristics under forces applied to the exterior thereof. Member 57 may be constructed of, for example, rubberized fabric and is provided with an inlet opening, not shown, that is suitably connected to tube 31 to allow inflation thereof. Member 57 is mounted upon the top of frame member 18 by suitable holding means, for example, straps 61 and 62 (FIG. 3), and is provided with longitudinally movable portions 58 and 59 at the front and rear ends respectively for coaction with the driving means shown on the several views of the drawings. The reference character 60A has been applied to the dotted portion of operator support member 57 on FIG. 2 to illustrate the deflection of the center portion of member 57 under the weight of an operator.

Front support means includes a vertically disposed fork-shaped member 70 extending upwardly through front vertical member 21 on frame 18. A wheel 72 including a one-way unidirectional clutch 73 is shown disposed on an axle 71 extending transversely through the lower forked end of member 70. A hollow cross member 74 is shown disposed on fork member 70 immediately below a boss member which serves to retain suitable bearing members 76 disposed intermediate boss member 75 and the lower end of front vertical member 21 on frame 18. A brake member 78 is shown vertically reciprocably disposed intermediate the forked portion of member 70 and is operatively connected to a push rod 79 extending upwardly therethrough. A spring biasing member 80 is disposed between a collar on the lower end of push rod member 79 and the top of cross member 77 on fork 70. Form member 70 is threaded at its top end as indicated by reference character 81 and is held rotatably disposed in front vertical member 21 on frame 18 by nut 82 threaded thereon. An upper frame member 87 is shown threadably disposed and nonrotatably held by suitable means (not shown) on the top of fork member 70. A head support and brake actuator member 83 is shown pivotally disposed on a pivot member 85 extending transversely through upper frame member 87. Head support and brake actuator member 83 further includes a transversely extending steering cross member 84 and it may be noted that member 83 is biased to the position shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings through the use of a biasing spring 86 connected intermediate the right end of member 83 and an upwardly extending portion of upper frame member 87. A U-shaped head and brake drive actuator is indicated by reference character 88 and includes a pad 89 disposed intermediate the left end and the forward portion, 58, of operator support member 57. The right end of U-shaped drive member 88 is shown connected to a lever linkage 90 that is connected to a drive lever which is pivoted on a suitable pivot 92 on the forward portion of frame 18 and is suitably connected at its top end through drive link 93 to head support and brake actuator 83. A suitable biasing spring tending to maintain drive lever 91 in the position shown in FIG. 8 is disposed intermediate upper frame 87 and drive lever 91. Front support means may also be provided with a plurality of wheels similar to wheel 72.

Operation In operation, operator support member 57 is suitably inflated by actuating pump handle 32 on pump 29 to a pressure determined by relief valve 30 which is normally provided with suitable adjusting means (not shown) to accommodate a range of operator weights in a manner similar to the adjustment means provided for biasing spring 25 at the rear end of the vehicle. The force supplied by biasing spring 25 is also adjusted to accommodate the weight of an operator dial member 28. The operator may thenmount the toy vehicle in a manner similar to mounting a real life horse and will assume a position astride saddle 12 with feet in stirrups 13. Assuming the operator is in a position with his weight raised slightly above saddle 12, the vehicle assumes the position shown in solid outline on FIG. 2 of the drawing. When the operator wishes to propel the vehicle forwardly, he merely bounces up and down on saddle 12 which deforms the top portion of operator support member 57 as indicated by dotted outline 60A on FIG. 2 of the drawings.

Deformation of operator support member 57 serves to extend its forward and rearward ends outwardly to initiate the motive forces for propelling the vehicle forwardly across a surface. At the forward end, drive member 88 moves the top end of drive lever 91 forwardly which in turn rotates head support and brake actuator member 83 clockwise about pivot member and causes the head of the toy animal to mod while simultaneously allowing upward movement of brake actuator rod 79 to release brake 78 from braking engagement with the periphery of forward wheel 72 which is then free to rotate in the direction shown. Simultaneously drive 54 causes clockwise motion of vertical support members 40 and 41 about pivot member 42 at the upper end of rear vertical member 22 on frame 18 for a distance determined by the position of pivot members 45 and 46 with relation to the slots provided in drive levers 43 and 44. The unidirectional clutches on rear wheels 50 and 51 prevent rotation thereof and the vehicle is propelled forwardly. Simultaneously, pump handle 32 is moved rearwardly by the connection of linkage 33 to cross member 47 extending intermediate drive levers 43 and 44. On the next upward movement of the operator, biasing springs 94 and 25 serve to retract drive members 88 and 54 into a position extending inwardly of the ends of operator support member 57 and front support means will assume the attitude shown in 'FIG. 8 while rear support means 14 will assume the attitude shown in solid outline on FIG. 2 and during this time, the unidirectional clutch on front wheel 72 serves to prevent rearward rotation thereof while the unidirectional clutches on rear wheels 51 and 52 allow free rotation in the forward direction. It should also be noted that the brake member 78 is also rendered operative at this time.

Steering may readily be accomplished by suitable actuations of the reins 17 attached to steering cross member 84 on head support and brake actuator 83. It should also be noted that brake 78 may be actuated at virtually any time by suitably raising the head of the animal or by applying a substantial force to steering cross member 84.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A toy vehicle comprising in combination:

(a) a longitudinally elongated horizontally disposed frame member;

(b) first support means disposed on one end extremity of said frame member in a generally vertical position;

(0) second support means pivotal about a horizontal axis extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of said frame member, at the other end of said frame member in a generally vertical position;

(d) ground engaging unidirectionally rotatable supporting members disposed at the lower end of said first and second support means;

(e) a fluid confining operator support member mounted on said frame member, said operator support member being comprised of a skin of material that is substantially inextensible;

(f) driving means protruding inwardly of the normal configuration of said fluid confining operator support member at one end thereof and connected to the upper end of said second support means at the other end thereof; and

(g) means biasing said driving means and said second support means toward said fluid confining operator support member whereby the application of the weight of an operator '[0 one portion of said fluid confining operator support member results in the application of a corresponding force toward said driving means and the upper end of said second support means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which fluid pumping means operatively connected to maintain a predetermined pressure within the operator support member are connected in driving relationship to the second support means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the second support means includes adjustable lever means adapted to control the speed of operation of the vehicle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which braking means are disposed on one of the first and second support means, said braking means including means drivingly connected to the fluid confining operator support member for operation in response to the weight of an operator thereon.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which one of the first and second support means is steerably mounted upon the longitudinally elonagted horizontally disposed frame member.

References Cited BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

I. SIEGEL, Assistant Examiner. 

